138 ¹ The secret sayings that the savior spoke to² Judas Thomas which I, even I, Mathaias,³ wrote down, while I was walking, listening to them speak with ⁴ one another.
 

A. Ignorance versus Self-Knowledge (138,4-138,21)

"Now, since it has been said that you are my⁸ twin and true companion, examine yourself, and learn⁹ who you are, in what way you exist, and¹⁰ how you will come to be. Since you will be called my brother,¹¹ it is not fitting that you be  ignorant¹² of yourself. And I know that you have understood,¹³ because you had already understood that I am the knowledge of the truth. ¹⁴ So while you accompany me, although you are uncomprehending,¹⁵ you have (in fact) already come to know, and you will be called 'the one who ¹⁶ knows himself'. For he who has not known¹⁷ himself has known nothing, but he who has known himself¹⁸ has at the same time already achieved knowledge about the depth of the all. ¹⁹ So then, you, my brother Thomas, have beheld what is obscure²⁰ to men, that is, what they ignorantly stumble against."²¹

B. Visible versus Invisible Reality (138,21-139,12)

The savior answered, saying,²⁸ "If the things that are visible to you are obscure²⁹ to you, how can you hear³⁰ about the things that are not visible? If the deeds of the truth ³¹ that are visible in the world are difficult for you to perform,³² how indeed, then, shall you perform those that pertain to the ³³ exalted height and to the pleroma which are not visible?³⁴ And how shall you be called 'laborers'?³⁵ In this respect you are apprentices, and have not yet received³⁶ the height of perfection."

Now Thomas answered³⁷ and said to the savior, "Tell us about these things³⁸ that you say are not visible, [but are] hidden³⁹ from us."

The savior said, "[Every human] body, [like] the⁴⁰ the beasts, is begotten [irational].⁴¹ Doesn't it appear like [a creature erect] ⁴² [among other creatures? For] this very reason, those that are above⁴³ [do not appear among] things that are visible, but they are visible 139 ¹ in their own root, and it is their fruit² that nourishes them. But these visible bodies³ survive by devouring creatures similar to them⁴ with the result that the bodies change. Now that which changes will ⁵ decay and perish, and has no hope of life from then on,⁶ since that body is bestial. So just as the body of the beasts⁷ perishes, so also will these formations⁸ perish. Do they not derive from intercourse⁹ like that of the beasts? If it, too derives from intercourse,¹⁰ how will it beget anything different from¹¹ beasts? So, therefore, you are babes until¹² you become perfect."

C. The Illumination of the Invisible by the Savior's Light (139,12-31)

Jesus said, "It is in light that light exists."²²

Thomas, spoke, saying, "Lord,²³ why does this visible light that shines²⁴ on behalf of men rise and set?"

The savior ²⁵ said, "O blessed Thomas, of course this visible light²⁶ shines on your behalf - not in order [that]²⁷ you remain here, but rather that you might come forth²⁸ - and whenever all the elect abandon²⁹ bestiality, then this light will withdraw³⁰ up to its essence, and its essence will welcome it,³¹ since it is a good servant."

D. The Wise Flee while the Ignorant Succumb to Bodily Passions (139.31-141,2)

a[uw petotp/]e?r?[o]ou Hrai+ H\n \nHou/t m\n \nsHiom?e 

[M]peHo?[ou !mn to]u?Sh auw etki/m eroou [H\n] ou-

[Go]m eF[Jero H]\n ouHw/p m\n ouw?n?H ebo[l   se]-

[ki]m gar \n?Gi \nHoou/t s[kim aJ\n \nsHio]-

And Thomas answered,⁶ saying, "Lord, this is exactly what I am asking⁷ you about, since I have understood that you⁸ are the one who is beneficial to us, as you say."

Again the savior⁹ answered and said, "Therefore it is necessary¹⁰ for us to speak to you, since this is the doctrine of the perfect. ¹¹ If, now, you desire to become perfect, you shall¹² observe these things; if not, your name is 'Ignorant',¹³ since it is impossible for an intelligent man to dwell with a ¹⁴ fool, for the intelligent man is perfect in all wisdom.¹⁵ To the fool, however, the good and bad are¹⁶ the same—indeed the wise man will be nourished¹⁷ by the truth and (Ps. 1:3) "will be like a tree growing by ¹⁸ the meandering stream"—seeing that there are some who, although having wings,¹⁹ rush upon the visible things, things that²⁰ are far from the truth. For that which guides them,²¹ the fire, will give them an illusion of truth,²² [and] will shine on them with a [perishable] beauty,²³ and it will imprison them in a dark²⁴ sweetness and captivate them with fragrant pleasure.²⁵ And it will blind them with insatiable lust²⁶ and burn their souls and become²⁷ for them like a stake stuck in their heart²⁸ which they can never dislodge. And like²⁹ a bit in the mouth, it leads them according to its³⁰ own desire. And it has fettered them with its³¹ chains and bound all their limbs³² with the bitterness of the bondage of lust for those³³ visible things that will decay and change³⁴ and swerve by impulse. They have³⁵ always been attracted downwards; as they are killed,³⁶ they are assimilated to all the beasts of ³⁷ the perishable realm."

Thomas answered and said, "It³⁸ is obvious and has been said, '[Many are those who cry³⁹ [out] to those who do not know [the repose of]⁴⁰ [their] soul.'"

And [the savior] answered, saying,⁴¹ "[Blessed is] the wise man who [sought⁴² after the truth, and] when he found it, he rested 141¹ upon it forever and was unafraid of those² who wanted to disturb him."

E. The Inevitable Reincarnation of Non-ascetic Christians (141,2-18)

The savior said, "Yes, it is useful.⁵ And it is good for you, since things visible⁶ among men will dissolve: for the vessel of  ⁷ their flesh will dissolve, and when it is brought to naught⁸ it will come to be among visible things, among things that are seen. ⁹ And then the fire which they see gives them pain¹⁰ on account of love for the faith they¹¹ formerly possessed. They will be gathered back to that which is visible. ¹² Moreover, those who have sight among things that are not visible, without¹³ the first love they will perish in the concern for this¹⁴ life and the scorching of the fire. Only a little while longer, ¹⁵ and that which is visible will dissolve; then ¹⁶ shapeless shades will emerge, and ¹⁷ in the midst of tombs they will forever dwell upon the corpses¹⁸ in pain and corruption of soul."¹⁹

F. Infernal Punishment and Reincarnation for the Merely Well-intentioned (141,19-142,21)

The savior said, "Truly, as for²⁶ [those], do not esteem them as men, but regard them [as]²⁷ beasts, for just as beasts devour one another,²⁸ so also men of this sort²⁹ devour one another. On the contrary, they are deprived of [the kingdom] ³⁰ since they love the sweetness of the fire and³¹ are servants of death and rush to the works of corruption.³² They fulfill the lust of their fathers. They will³³ be thrown down to the abyss and be afflicted³⁴ by the torment of the bitterness of their evil nature.³⁵ For they will be scourged so as to make them³⁶ rush backwards, whither they do not know, and³⁷ they [will recede] from their limbs not patiently, but³⁸ with despair. And they rejoice over [their]³⁹ [involvement with life in] madness and derangement, since they are [fools]. ⁴⁰ [They] pursue this derangement without realizing [their⁴¹ madness, thinking] that they [are] wise. [They love]⁴² [the beauty] of their body [...] 142¹ Their mind is directed to their own selves, for their thought is occupied ² with their deeds. But it is the fire that will burn them."³

And Thomas answered and said, "Lord, what will the one ⁴ thrown down to them do? For I am most anxious ⁵ about them; many are those who fight them."⁶

The savior answered and said, "What is your own⁷ opinion?"

Judas - the one called⁸ Thomas - said, "It is you, lord, whom it befits⁹ to speak, and me to listen."¹⁰

The savior replied, "Listen to what I am going to tell you ¹¹ and believe in the truth. That which sows and that which is sown¹² will dissolve in the fire - within the fire¹³ and the water - and they will hide in tombs of darkness.¹⁴ And after a long time they shall show forth¹⁵ the fruit of the evil trees, being punished,¹⁶ being slain in the mouth of beasts and men¹⁷ at the instigation of the rains and winds and air¹⁸ and the light that shines above."

G. How to Preach these Misunderstood Sayings (142,21-26)

A. The Imprisonment of the Scoffers in Hades (142,26-143,7)

B. Twelve Woes against the Scoffers (143,8-145,1)

1. "Woe to you, godless ones, who have no hope,¹⁰ who rely on things that will not happen!

2. "Woe to you¹¹ who hope in the flesh and in the prison that will perish!¹² How long will you be oblivious? And how long will you suppose that the imperishables ¹³ will perish too? Your hope is set¹⁴ upon the world, and your god is this life!¹⁵ You are corrupting your souls!

3. "Woe to you within¹⁶ the fire that burns in you, for it is insatiable!¹⁷

4. "Woe to you because of the wheel that turns in¹⁸ your minds!

5. "Woe to you within the grip of the burning¹⁹ that is in you, for it will devour your flesh openly²⁰ and rend your souls secretly,²¹ and prepare you for your companions!

6. "Woe to ²² you, captives, for you are bound in caverns!²³ You laugh! In mad laughter you rejoice!²⁴ You neither realize your perdition, nor²⁵ do you reflect on your circumstances, nor have [you]²⁶ understood that you dwell in darkness and [death]!²⁷ On the contrary, you are drunk with the fire and [full]²⁸ of bitterness. Your mind is deranged on account of the [burning ²⁹ that is in] you, and sweet to you are the poison and³⁰ the blows of your enemies! And the darkness rose for³¹ you like the light, for you surrendered your freedom³² for servitude! You darkened your hearts³³ and surrendered your thoughts³⁴ to folly, and you filled your thoughts³⁵ with the smoke of the fire that is in you! And³⁶ your light [has hidden] in the cloud³⁷ [of darkness] and the garment that is put upon you, you [pursued] ³⁸ [with deceit]. And [you] were seized [by ³⁹ the hope that] does not exist. And whom is it [you⁴⁰ have] believed? Do you [not know that you]⁴¹ all dwell among those who [...]⁴² [… and you boast] as though [you had hope]. 144¹ You baptized your souls in the water of darkness!² You walked by your own whims!

7. "Woe ³ to you who dwell in error, heedless⁴ that the light of the sun which judges and⁵ looks down upon the all will circle around all things⁶ so as to enslave the enemies. You do not even notice⁷ the moon, how by night and day it⁸ looks down, looking at the bodies of your slaughters!

8. "Woe ⁹ to you who love intimacy with womankind¹⁰ and polluted intercourse with them!

9. And woe ¹¹ to you in the grip of the powers of your body,¹² for they will afflict you!

10. Woe to you in the grip of¹³ the forces of the evil demons!¹⁴

11. Woe to you who beguile your limbs with fire!¹⁵ Who is it that will rain a refreshing dew on you¹⁶ to extinguish the mass of fire from you¹⁷ along with your burning? Who is it that will cause the sun to ¹⁸ shine upon you to disperse the darkness in you¹⁹ and hide the darkness and polluted water?

"The sun ²⁰ and the moon will give a fragrance to you together with the air and²¹ the wind (spirit) and the earth and the water. For if the sun does not ²² shine upon these bodies, they will wither and perish²³ just like weeds or grass. If²⁴ the sun shines on them, they prevail and choke²⁵ the grapevine; but if the grapevine²⁶ prevails and shades those weeds²⁷ [and] all the other brush growing alongside, and²⁸ [spreads] and flourishes, it alone²⁹ inherits the land in which it grows;³⁰ and every place it has shaded it dominates.³¹ And when it grows up, it dominates all the land³² and is bountiful for its master, and it pleases him³³ even more, for he would have suffered great pains³⁴ on account of these plants until he uprooted them. But the ³⁵ grapevine alone removed them and choked ³⁶ them, and they died and became like the soil."

Then ³⁷ Jesus continued and said to them,

12. "Woe to ³⁸ you, for you did not receive the doctrine, and those who are [...]³⁹ will labor at preaching [...].⁴⁰ And [you] are rushing into … [...]⁴¹ […] will send [them] down …⁴² [...] you kill them daily 145¹ in order that they might rise from death.

C. Three Macarisms (145,1-8)

2. "Blessed are you who are reviled⁴ and not esteemed on account of the love⁵ their lord has for them.

3. "Blessed are⁶ you who weep and are oppressed by⁷ those without hope, for you will be released from⁸ every bondage.

D. Pray to Exit the Body and Find Rest with the King (145,8-16)